Cotton-seed-delinting machine.



PATENTED MAY 22 W. A. RAGSDALE. COTTON SEED DELINTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 0OT.18, 1906.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

uuentoz lvitmmoeo PATENTED MAY 22, 1906.

W. A. RAGSDALE. COTTON SEED DELINTING MACHINE.

A PPLIOATION FILED OCT. 18, 1906.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Witnwow MW W W c flttownv I \NBREW FINA" C0 PHDYO U'HOGRIPNERS WISWNGTON D C UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM ADRON RAGSDALE, OF NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA, ASSIGNOR TO INTERNATIONAL COTTON SEED DELINTING COMPANY, OF WASH- INGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

COTTON-SEED-DELINTING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 22, 1906.

Application filed October 18, 1905. Serial No. 283,358.

at New Orleans, in the parish of Orleans and State of Louisiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cotton- Seed-Delinting Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved construction of cotton-seed-delinting machine for removing the lint from the seed and leaving the latter in a cleaned condition without removing or damaging the hull.

The invention has particularly in View certain novel and practical improvements in machines of the character referred to which shall provide a positive and reliable means 1 seed is subjected to a thorough scouring action without cracking or otherwise damaging the same and which serves to take 01f the lint from the ends as well as the sides of the seed, thus placing the same in the best possible condition for subsequent handling and treatment.

Another and distinctive object of theinvention is to provide improved means for effectually disposing of the loose lint, dust, trash, and other foreign matter which is loosened up from the seed during the scouring action; also, to provide an improved distribution of the suction means whereby a uniform lint and trash discharging suction is maintained throughout the entire length and circumference of the scouring shell or cylinder.

lVith these and other objects in view, which will more readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated, and claimed.

- The essential featuresof the invention involved in carrying 'out the objects above indicated ar,susceptible to structural change .;-.W;i,th,out departing from the sco e thereof -buta preferredembodiment of t e machine is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a delintin and hulling machine constructed in accord ance with the present invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the complete machine. Fig. 3 is a vertical central cross-sectional view of the machine.

Like references designate corresponding parts .n the several figures of the drawings. In carrying out the present invention the same comprises in its general organization three principal parts-namely, an outer case 1, an interior cylindrical scouring-shell 2, ar-

ranged within the case in spaced relation to its wall, and a rotary agitator 3, arranged for rotation within the scouring-shell 2 and cooperating therewith in the manner to be presently explained for producing the necessary scouring action.

The outer case 1 is preferably of a cylindrical form, the same consisting of an imperforate cylindrical body supported between and upon the oppositely-arranged end heads 4 and 5, which are preferably provided upon their inner sides with the inwardly-projecting concentric holding-flanges 6, which receive and support the ends of the cylindrical outer case 1. Also the end heads 4 constitute closures for the ends of the scouringshell 2, and

in order to provide for the admission of air into the working space 7 between the periphery of the agitator and the inner surface of the scouring-shell the said end heads are provided therein with a series of air inlets or ports 8 in communication with the said workmg space 7 at the ends thereof.

The outer case constitutes a suction-chamber wh'ch completely envelops the scouringshell 2-, and at the top the case is formed with an-upwardly-convergent hood portion 9, the side and end walls of which hood ortion converge upwardly to a central out et-neck 10. This outlet-neck has connected therewith one end of an air-suction pipe 11, leading to the side thereof with an auxiliary air-inlet 13, designed to be covered and uncovered by the regulating damper or gate 14, which may be manipulated to feed more or less air into the suction-hood and the body ortion of the casein communication therewith, to thereby increase or diminish the suction at will. Hence through the medium of the regulating damper or gate 14 the entire delinting action and rapidity of discharge of the delinted seed may be controlled.

The scouring-shell 2 within the outer suc tion-case 1 is of a general cylindrical shape and arranged to extend longitudinally within the case from end to end, as plainly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. The said shell is of a sectional construction and essentially consists of a series of parallel circular holders 15 and abrasive rings 16, carried by the said holders, whereby the series of abrasive rings will provide an interior, abrasive scouringsurface, against which the seed is worked. by the agitator, as will hereinafter appear. The entire series of circular holders 15, which, in effect, form the main cylindrical body of the scouring-shell, are arranged side by side in regular spaced relation to leave therebetween the intervening annular discharge-slits 17 in communication with the interior working space 7 and also with the suction-chamber enveloping the scouring-shell, whereby fiber and other trash worked from the seed. can readily escape into the suction case and thence be drawn out of the same through the suction discharge-pipe 11. Inthis connection a distinctive and important feature of the invention resides in the fact that the circular holding-rings 15 for the abrasive rings 16 are of a triangular shape in cross-section, thereby providing between contiguous rings outwardly-flaring annular clearance-spaces 18 in communication with the slits and forming flaring discharges or exits for the lint and trash. By reason of this construction namely, the provision of narrow intervening annular discharge-slits opening into flaring annular spaces between the ringsit is obvious that a perfectly free discharge is provided at all times for the lint and trash, and clogging of such discharge is obviated. This is of the greatest importance in a cotton-seed-delint ing machine, and, moreover, by reason of providing the annular outwardly-flaring spaces 18 a uniform and strong suction can be maintained entirely about the scouring-shell at the points or slits where the lint and trash leave the working space 7. u

, There is of course any desired number of the holders or holding-rings 15 for the abrasive elements, and these holders are individually formed with an inner peripheral :groove 19, receiving a correspondingly-shaped retaming-tongue 20, formed on the outer side portion of an abrasive ring 20, and in this connection it will be observed that by reason of the cross-sectionally triangular shape of the rings 15 the matching grooves and tongues 19 and 20 are of corresponding form. This construction is a practical one from the fact that it provides a tight wedging fit for the abrasive rings in the holders therefor.

The abrasive rings 16 are formed of carborundum, emery-stone, or equivalent abrasive substance to provide an inner abrasive scouring-surface for the shell. It is preferable in the construction of this shell to not only have the individual holders and abrasive elements separate and independent of each other in their spaced relation, but also to form each holder and the abrasive ring associated therewith of a plurality of matching sections, the sections of each holder being designated by the reference-number 21, and the sections of the abrasive ring in the holder being designated by the reference-number 22, as may be best seen from Fig. 3 of the drawings. By reason of this sectional formation of each holder 15 and the abrasive ring held thereby the several sections may be readily removed and taken apart for purposes of repair or adjustment, and as a preferred mechanical means for holding the sections ofeach holder 15 together. such sections are provided at their contiguous ends with the outstanding bolt-lugs 23-, receiving the fastenin'gbolts 2 1. Also to provide for the convenient and proper support of the several holders each of the same may be provided at diametrically opposite sides with the hanger-hooks '25, adapted to engage over and rest upon the side sup porting-bars 26, arranged longitudinally of the machine within opposite side portions of the outer case 1'. In addition to the side hooks and bars 25 and 26 each holder is providedat the lower side thereof with a bifurcated keeper-lug 27, engaging over a bottom longitudinally-arranged supportingbar '28. This construction serves to provide means to securely and accurately position and su'p port the various holders and their abrasive rings, and also permits the same to be readily removed and replaced.

The inner surface of the scouring shell may be rendered more positive in its scouring action by providing each of the abrasive rings 16 with a corrugated or scalloped working face 29. This increases the area of the active scouring-surface, and also has a retarding effect upon the seed. Also the inner working face of the scouring-surface of the shell has formed therein a spiral 'conveyer groove 30, and each of the individual abrasive sections or blocks '22 has (the working face thereof diagonally crossed by a section of the said groove. Hence when all of the individual abrasive sections or blocks 22 of the abrasive 'ring 16 are assembled the difler ent sections ofthe groove will match and provide a continuous spiral groove-3o, such as indicated in Fig. l of the drawings, and

IIS

which in connection with the agitator-drum serves to provide a uniform and positive screw-like feed of the seed from one end of the machine to the other.

Referring particularly to the agitator 3, the same essentially comprises a cylindrical drum or body 31 of a length coextensive with that of the scouring-shell and mounted upon a longitudinal drive-shaft 32, whose ends are journaled in suitable bearings 34, carried upon the end heads or castings 4 and 5, said drive-shaft being driven from any suitable source of power. Another distinctive feature of the present invention resides in providing the exterior of the agitator drum or body with an abrasive scouring-surface 33 and with a multiplicity of radially-extending and longitudinally-arranged rigid pressure blades or wings 34, projecting beyond the surface 33. The scouring-surface 33 extends over the entire agitator-drum and is preferably made up of a plurality of abrasive rings or ring-sections 35, slipped over the drum and clam ed up in close side-by-side relation through t e medium of suitable end clamps or fastening devices 36, arranged at the ends of the'agitator-drum. As stated,in addition to the abrasive scouring-surface 33, working in opposition to that of the scouring-shell, the drum-body 31 carries a plurality of the rigid pressure blades or wings 34. These blades or wings may be secured to the agitator-body by any suitable means-such, for instance, as bolting the same to fastening-plates 37 on the body but irrespective of the method of securing the blades or wings in place the same are preferably constructed in short sections arranged in spiral order about the drum-body, thereby acting somewhat in the capacity of conveyerflights, which cooperate with the spiral groove to carry the material from one end of the machine to the other. Other arrangements of the pressure blades or wings may be observed without materially affecting the invention; but in any embodiment thereof the said blades are constructed of non-resilient flat strips of steel and are of a saw-tooth constructionthat is, provided along their outer working edges with a continuous series of angular teeth 38, which provide alternating points and notches, as plainly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

The toothed blades or wings 34 move flatwise against the seed, and while their points serve to work the seed against the scouringsurface of the shell the seed freely roll in and out of the notches of the toothed edges, and hence will be prevented from cracking or mashing. The exposed portions of the abrasive scouring-surface 33 on the agitator-drum greatly au ment the abrasive scouring action of the shel At one end the machine is provided with a feed-spout 39 for admitting undelinted material into the scouring-shell, and at the opposite end the shell is in communication with a delivery-spout 40 for delinted seed.

From the foregoing it is thought that the construction, operation, and many advantages of the herein-described invention will be readily apparent without further description.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a cotton-seed-delinting machine, a scouring-shell consisting of a series of parallel spaced abrasive rings each having a section of a spiral groove therein, and an agitator having-pressure-blades cooperating with such r1n s.

2 In a machine of the class described, a scouring-shell having an inner abrasive surface and a series of annular flaring spaces opening at their apices into the shell, a suction-chamber enveloping the shell, and an agitator carrying pressure-blades.

3. In a machine of the class described a scouring-shell having an inner abrasive surface and a series of annular flaring dischargespaces opening at their apices into the shell, a suction-chamber enveloping the shell, and an agitator provided With pressure-blades, and an abrasive surface.

4. In a machine of the class described, a

scouring-shell having an inner abrasive surface and a series of annular 'flaring spaces opening at their apices into the shell, a suction-chamber about the shell, and an agitator provided with radially-projecting pressure-blades of a saw-tooth formation.

5. In a machine of the class described, a scouring-shell having an inner abrasive surface and a series of annular flaring spaces opening at their apices into the shell, a suction-chamber about the shell, and an agitator provided with an abrasive surface and rigid pressure-blades projecting beyond such surface and having toothed working edges.

6. In a machine of the class described, a scouring-shell having an inner abrasive surface, and an agitator working within the shell and having a continuous abrasive surface and blades projecting beyond such surface, said blades being of a saw-toothed formation.

7. In a machine of the class described, a scouring-shell having an inner abrasive surface provided with a spiral groove, and an agitator having an exterior abrasive surface and a plurality of pressure-blades projecting beyond such surface, said blades having toothed edges and arranged in spiral order.

8. In a machine of the class described, a scouring-shell consisting of a series of parallel-spaced abrasive rings each having sections of a spiral groove therein, and an agitator having an abrasive surface and toothed pressure-blades projecting beyond such surface.

9. In a machine of the class described, a

holders, an outer suction-case having therein side supporting-bars engaged by said hangers 1 and a bottom supporting-bar engaged by said lug, and an agitator Working Within the shell. If

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

WILLIAM ADRON RAGSDALE,

Witnesses:

WILLIAM W. DEANE, D. P. WOLHAUPTER. 

